Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2023
The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in Maryland offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.
10 Best Community Colleges in Maryland
- Hagerstown Community College 18 to 1
- College of Southern Maryland 17 to 1
- Frederick Community College 17 to 1
- Montgomery College 17 to 1
- Harford Community College 17 to 1
- Howard Community College 15 to 1
- Carroll Community College 14 to 1
- Montgomery College $8,070
- Garrett College $7,980
- Cecil College $7,050
- Howard Community College $6,615
- Allegany College of Maryland 11 to 1
- Cecil College 12 to 1
- Garrett College 13 to 1
- Carroll Community College 14 to 1
- Chesapeake College 14 to 1
- Wor–Wic Community College 14 to 1
- Howard Community College 15 to 1
- Chesapeake College $4,632
- Howard Community College $6,615
Colleges and Universities in Maryland
The Old Line State has 46 colleges and universities, 30 of which are public and 16 of which are private. The United States Naval Academy offers programs in physical sciences, aeronautical engineering, and naval architecture. The largest private institution, Johns Hopkins University, has just over 24,000 students and a tuition rate of $54,000. Located in Baltimore, this research university is known for its science and medical discoveries.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
The University of Maryland in College Park boasts over 35,000 students with a price tag of $11,000. The school has 15 campuses, and students can choose from areas of study like criminal justice, communications, physics, and sociology. The most affordable school in the state, Baltimore City Community College comes in at $3,000 and has 37 associate degree programs to choose from. Maryland also provides loan forgiveness programs for its residents, including those for dentists and public servants. Students can also check out the Maryland SmartBuy Home Buyer Assistance and Forgiveness Program, where eligible applicants can receive up to 15% of the home purchase price toward outstanding student loan, to be paid off as part of closing.
Maryland is a state bursting with history, from its numerous museums to its historic battlegrounds. Students who attend school in Maryland can explore the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Park and walk the same streets as many influential Marylanders, including Francis Scott Key, Babe Ruth, Billie Holiday, and Thurgood Marshall.
Whether you’re looking to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, Maryland offers its students history, legacy, and numerous degree paths.
What are Maryland’s Colleges & Universities?
- 6 Research Universities
- 18 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 13 Graduate Schools
- 13 Public Colleges & Universities
- 11 Private Colleges & Universities
- 4 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 15 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 13 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 16 Community Colleges
- 7 Online Colleges
Maryland’s Best Overall
We’ve identified 16 community colleges in Maryland. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Maryland.
Best Community Colleges in Maryland
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
28%
Student body
7K
What is Anne Arundel Community College known for?
Anne Arundel Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$10K
Graduation
29%
Student body
13K
What is Montgomery College known for?
Montgomery College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Criminal Justice
- Computer Science
- Communications
- Engineering
- Sociology
- Education
- Business
- Nursing
- Medical
- Social Work
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
19%
Student body
1K
What is Cecil College known for?
Cecil College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Nursing
- Education
- Business
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Medical
- Criminal Justice
- Biology
- Literature
- Engineering
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
28%
Student body
<1K
What is Garrett College known for?
Garrett College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
16%
Student body
10K
What is Community College of Baltimore County known for?
Community College of Baltimore County’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Nursing
- Criminal Justice
- Social Work
- Business
- Computer Science
- Education
- Biology
- Engineering
- Sociology
- Medical
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
13%
Student body
8K
What is Prince George's Community College known for?
Prince George's Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Nursing
- Criminal Justice
- Political Science
- Engineering
- Business
- Communications
- Education
- Medical
- Computer Science
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
31%
Student body
4K
What is College of Southern Maryland known for?
College of Southern Maryland’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
25%
Student body
6K
What is Howard Community College known for?
Howard Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
33%
Student body
1K
What is Allegany College of Maryland known for?
Allegany College of Maryland’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
11%
Student body
3K
What is Baltimore City Community College known for?
Baltimore City Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
29%
Student body
3K
What is Frederick Community College known for?
Frederick Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
19%
Student body
2K
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
33%
Student body
2K
What is Hagerstown Community College known for?
Hagerstown Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
26%
Student body
1K
What is Chesapeake College known for?
Chesapeake College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
32%
Student body
3K
What is Harford Community College known for?
Harford Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
41%
Student body
2K
What is Carroll Community College known for?
Carroll Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
- Montgomery College
- Baltimore City Community College
- Garrett College
- Hagerstown Community College
- College of Southern Maryland
- Chesapeake College
- Frederick Community College
- Carroll Community College
- Howard Community College
- Community College of Baltimore County
- Prince George's Community College
- Harford Community College
- Cecil College
- Wor–Wic Community College
- Allegany College of Maryland
